“ASSURANCE OF SALVATION”

Regardless of what we are doing we like to feel sure that we will have success and what we are doing is the right thing. This is especially true in our spiritual life. We all want to be right with God! We want to know that we will be successful and that we will have an eternal home in heaven with God.

Several years ago I was laboring with a congregation. One of the sisters who was very faithful and was always working for the cause of the Lord made this statement in Bible class, “I don’t know whether I will go to heaven or not”. She further stated that she did not feel that anyone could actually know what their eternal fate would be. She probably meant that she didn’t know how she would be judged; but we can know how we will be judged, Jesus’ words will judge us (John 12:48). I didn’t believe that she was correct at that time nor do I believe it yet today. My Bible tells me I can know: (1 John 5:13) "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." Does John not state here that “ye may know that ye have eternal life”? How are we to understand this statement? Can we or can we not know whether we have eternal life? I understand this to mean that we can have “assurance” of eternal life.

Do you have “assurance” of salvation? Read what Isaiah wrote concerning his salvation: (Isa 12:2) "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation." Isaiah knew the source of his salvation; he trusted God to save him, furthermore, he was not afraid of going to hell because God was his salvation. Friends, we need to have this trust in God. Like Isaiah we too can have “assurance”!

How do we obtain this assurance? “Assurance” can be ours through faith: (Heb 10:22) "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." Faith is something that Christians should have. You and I must trust God to keep His word. We can have “assurance” that if we do what God has told us to do He will certainly do as He has promised. We should take notice that the Hebrew writer wrote that we must “draw near with a TRUE HEART”. If we are not sincere God will know; this is the reason we are instructed to “draw near to God with a true heart”. If we are honest and continue to serve God as He has instructed we can have “assurance”.

Is there any way that we may obtain confirmation? I would refer you to the words of John: (1 John 3:14) "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death." Here John wrote, “We know”. This knowledge is made known by the fact that we love the brethren. If we don’t love the brethren it is high time that we begin to make some changes in our lives. John confirms his statement in verse nineteen: (1 John 3:19) "And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him." Make no mistakes about it, we must love “the brethren”.

“Assurance” is the effect of righteousness: (Isa 32:17) "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." Peace, and quietness, and everlasting assurance may be expected, and shall be found, in the way and work of righteousness. True “assurance” is to be had only in true religion. The work of righteousness shall be peace. Though the work of righteousness may be toilsome and costly, and expose us to contempt, yet it is peace. Furthermore, the effect of righteousness shall be quietness and assurance, not only to the end of time, of our time, and in the end, but to the endless ages of eternity.

What do we have to do in order to have this “assurance”? Keep His word is the answer that John gives: (1 John 2:5) "But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him." If you are “keeping the word of God” you can have “assurance” that God’s love is “perfected” toward you!